Category: Car Accidents

Kansas Crash Facts from 2016 to 2020

Each day, millions of vehicle miles are traveled in Kansas by people commuting to and from work, going on road trips, or running errands. Although no one anticipates being involved in a collision, with so many motorists on the road, this is a reality for thousands of drivers and passengers each year.

From 2016 to 2020, Kansas averaged 60,602 motor vehicle accidents. When examining this data from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), there are many consistencies throughout this five-year period. Keep reading to learn more about the different circumstances that occur most frequently in these car crashes.

Driver Error Contributes to Most Crashes

Throughout the study time period, the top five contributing circumstances related to crashes were driver inattention, animals, right of way violations, following too closely, and speeding. On average, these five factors were involved in 56.42% of crashes, with the four “driver error” categories making up about 43.56%.

It’s important to note that these driver errors are all preventable when remaining attentive to the road and reducing speeds. Likewise, when driving at night, especially in rural areas, drivers should be mindful to slow down and check for animals that could likely dart into the road.

Over 20% of Crashes Result in Injury

In terms of crash severity, Kansas had about 12,865 injury crashes on average in this period. This makes up about 21.2% of crashes in the state. In contrast, there was an average of only about 379 fatalities.

The fatal crash rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was on a steady decline until 2020. And despite about 5 billion fewer vehicle miles traveled during this year, there was a 6% increase in fatal crashes. Although there is not a definitive answer for why fatal crashes increased during this time, incident rates of speeding were much higher, which likely was a contributing factor.

More Fatal Crashes Occur in Rural Areas

KDOT defines urban areas as those with more than 5,000 people within the boundary lines. Considering this distinction, it makes sense that over 60% of crashes occur in these areas. However, higher rates of fatal crashes occur in rural areas. In 2016, about 62.7% of fatal crashes happened in a rural area.

There may be several reasons why this is the case. Higher speed limits on highways and less traffic are likely contributing factors. Additionally, rural areas may have much lower law enforcement and emergency response presence, increasing the amount of time it would take for someone to arrive on the scene of a crash.

SUVs are Involved in Second Highest Number of Crashes Annually

KDOT distinguishes between vehicle types when reporting crash data. Although standard cars are involved in the most crashes each year, sports utility vehicles (SUVs) have the second-highest number, averaging about 19,526 crashes annually.

Considering this, it may be easy to assume that there are just more SUVs registered in the state; however, this is not the case. Recent reports show that the Ford F-150 is the most popular vehicle in Kansas when looking at new and used car sales.

Nearly 10% of Fatal Crashes Involved Motorcycles

Despite making up less than 1% of vehicles involved in traffic crashes, motorcycles account for about 10% of fatalities on average. Many reasons can contribute to this. For one, motorcycles provide very little protection to the rider, and even if they are wearing all the appropriate safety gear, it may not be enough to completely reduce the risk of severe injuries.

Additionally, motorcyclists are more vulnerable to being hit by other vehicles because they are much smaller and can be harder to see. It’s important for all drivers to be aware of their surroundings and always check twice for motorcycles before changing lanes or making a turn.

Learn more: How Cars Cause Motorcycle Crashes

Tips for Crash Prevention

The best way to prevent crashes is to be a defensive driver. This means being aware of your surroundings, obeying all traffic laws, and not driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Don’t forget to put away any distractions so you can focus on the task of driving.

It’s also important to always buckle up and make sure everyone in your vehicle is properly restrained before setting out on your trip. This has proven to be one of the most effective ways to reduce the possibility of sustaining fatal injuries in a crash.

Kansas Car Accident Attorneys Protecting Your Future

The team at Bretz Injury Law is here to help all Kansas drivers seek justice for injuries sustained in a crash with a negligent driver. Backed by 30 years of experience, Attorney Matthew L. Bretz has what it takes to help you achieve a successful result. Get started today by calling to schedule a free consultation.

As the summer season approaches, families anticipate some much-needed rest and relaxation. However, this time of year does not come without its downsides. A phenomenon known as the “100 deadliest days of summer” reminds parents to encourage teen drivers to practice defensive driving techniques whenever possible.

What are the “100 Deadliest Days”?

This term refers to the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when teen drivers are most likely to be involved in a fatal car accident. Data from AAA found that from 2010 to 2019, an average of seven teens sustained fatal injuries each day during this period.

Local governments around the country often launch annual campaigns regarding these 100 days, highlighting certain risk factors that may make these crashes more likely. Some of these risk factors include increased traffic on the roads, driving under the influence, and distractions such as cell phones. With this increased risk, it’s important to have thoughtful conversations about teen driver safety.

Tips for Teen Drivers

There are several things that teen drivers can do to stay safe during this time. First, it is important to always wear a seatbelt and encourage passengers to do the same. Additionally, teens should avoid driving late at night or early in the morning when fatigue is more likely to set in.

Parents may also consider having a conversation with their teen about responsible driving habits such as obeying the speed limit and avoiding distractions. If you are teaching your child how to drive during this time of year, take the opportunity to model these behaviors and discuss the importance of keeping safety at the forefront.

Kansas Car Accident Attorneys

Keeping loved ones safe is always a priority, and the team at Bretz Injury Law understands that a loss can be devastating for the whole family. If you are seeking a car accident attorney for the loss of a loved one, we can help you pursue justice and secure your future. Schedule a free consultation today by calling .

Highway Fatality Rate Increased by 19% in 2020

As part of the state’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) annually releases a performance report that highlights the changes in roadway accident severity year-over-year. The most recent report, released in 2021, showed that the fatality rate for the last five years has been trending significantly higher than previously. From 2019 to 2020, the fatality rate increased by about 19%; however, since 2012, the average year-over-year has only been about +2.56%.

So what is causing this steady increase? Here are a few factors to consider:

Accident Locations

When looking at the five-year averages of factors influencing the number of fatalities on Kansas roads, where accidents are occurring plays a large role. Comparing 2012-2016 to 2016-2020 shows that there is a steady increase among accidents at intersections, local roads, and on roads with horizontal curves.

Driver Age

The reports indicate that older drivers and pedestrians are increasingly becoming more involved in accidents resulting in severe injuries and fatalities, while the teen rates are actually decreasing. Comparing the five-year averages from 2012-2016 and 2016-2020, the number of fatalities among individuals aged 65+ are 90 and 109.6, respectively.

Vehicles Involved

Motorcycles/mopeds and large commercial vehicles involved in fatal accidents have also increased since 2012. For motorcyclists/mopeds, the five-year average number of fatalities was 46 from 2012-2016, while this has increased to 55.6 from 2016-2020; for commercial vehicles, these numbers are 64 and 81.2, respectively.

Looking ahead to 2022, the state is aiming for a fatality rate of 1.28, which would be about a 15.6% decrease from 2020. Although KDOT estimates that it is on track to achieve this, the statewide changes from 2021 (like return to in-person schooling and lifting curfews) may influence how effective the new HSIP may be.

Kansas Car Accident Attorneys

Since 1997, Bretz Injury Law has been dedicated to protecting the rights of injured individuals throughout Kansas. With seven convenient office locations, you can get the legal assistance you deserve when you need it most. Schedule a free consultation today by calling .

Bad car accidents happen fast and often seem to come out of nowhere. Following a collision with another motorist, most accident victims are unsure of what to do next.

Car accident injuries such as broken bones (fractures), back pain, and head injuries often take months or longer to heal. Many people have to miss work during this time, and some people will never be able to return to their jobs in the same capacity as before their injury.

Hopefully, you never get into an accident, but if you do, it’s best to be ready. If you get into a car accident in Kansas, there are some steps you can take that will help you in your pursuit of fair financial compensation.

Make no mistake: Leaving money on the table after an accident puts you and your family at risk. Crippling medical debt, years of financial struggle, and having to make difficult decisions between your health and paying bills are real results of taking a too-small settlement.

If you were injured in a car accident, get a free case consultation with Kansas’ trusted law firm, Bretz Injury Law. In the meantime, here are some general best practices you can use after a car crash.

What to do after a Kansas car accident

The following are recommendations from the Kansas Bar Association on what to do after a wreck. Understanding Kansas accident law, your rights, which evidence to collect, and when to stay quiet can help you build a strong claim from the start.

Stop

Never drive away from the scene of an accident. If you have been in an accident or felt your vehicle go over a “bump,” it is best to stop. Do not move your vehicle before the police arrive unless it is blocking traffic. If someone is injured, and you are able to, try and help them.

Report it

Call 911 and alert the police. Alert your insurance company as soon as you are able. Under the law, you must inform police when an accident causes injury or at least $1,500 in property damage.

ID the other driver

The police will take this information down, but it doesn’t hurt for you to have the other person’s name, address, city, state, zip, car tag number, driver’s license number, and insurance company policy number. Kansas law requires all drivers in an accident to provide this information.

Locate witnesses

Police will take witness statements, but they can still miss people. Some witnesses cannot stay to wait for the police to arrive. There are some people who will decline to make a statement to the police but will be happy to help you with your claim. Write down witness names, addresses, and contact information. Ask them what they saw.

Record the names of everyone in the crash

Make a note of the names, addresses, and contact information for every passenger, cyclist, pedestrian, motorcyclist, trucker, etc. in the accident.

Make a timeline

Start writing down everything you can remember about the accident as soon as possible, even while you’re still at the crash site. No matter how hard we may try, memories become fuzzy with time, and details get confused. It is best to record the incident when the moment is fresh in your mind. Make sure to include information like time, place, clothing, speed, actions prior to the crash, among other details.

Just the facts

The immediate aftermath of a car accident is no time to make an official statement to the police or insurance companies. You are almost certainly in shock, and that will affect your ability to communicate clearly. While you must cooperate with police and insurance agents, you do not have to ruin your claim by making hasty statements. Provide authorities with basic information. Tell them you will be in contact with more information soon. To protect your legal rights and interests, you should speak with a lawyer before making a statement.

ID the police

You may have questions later on. If that happens you will want to speak with officers who were at the accident. It is a good idea to take down the names, departments, and badge numbers of the responding police officers. This information is also available on the accident report that’s generated by the police.

See a doctor

If there is an emergency medical technician at the accident, let them examine you. If you are not transported from the scene to a hospital, you will want to see a doctor right away. Even if you were checked at the crash and feel “okay,” see a doctor. Injuries don’t always present themselves immediately, and even the best EMT in Kansas can miss an injury amid the confusion and chaos of an accident. A doctor will have more time and equipment available to give you a thorough examination.

Call a lawyer

An experienced car accident lawyer will be able to help you pursue compensation for your injuries and other compensable damages. A lawyer can investigate your accident, collect evidence, file persuasive reports and documents under deadlines, and negotiate with the insurance company for a fair financial settlement.

Protect your legal rights after a crash in Kansas

It is vital that you consult a lawyer after a car accident. You need to get the most money possible for your injuries, otherwise, you may end up paying for expensive treatments out of your own pocket. A lot of people think they can’t afford a lawyer, but you absolutely can.

At Bretz Injury Law we offer accident victims free case consultations. We can help you understand how the law applies to your case and the value of your claim. Our legal team can help you weigh your legal options for free and with no obligation to hire us.

Our firm serves all of Kansas and our attorneys work on contingency. That means there is no upfront money, retainer, or hourly rate for you to pay. Our fee is added to your final settlement or verdict and paid for by the insurance companies. If we don’t win, we don’t get paid.

Call or email us today to learn more. We have offices in Hutchinson, Wichita, Salina, Garden City, Dodge City, Liberal, and Hays, and we are ready to hear from you now.

Attorney explains how the legal system works for families in Kansas

A Wichita woman recently died due to injuries sustained in a pedestrian hit-and-run accident. The tragedy prompted city officials to make changes to the area where the fatal pedestrian accident took place, according to KWCH 12 News.

Many cities and states have made similar efforts to reduce the number of hit-and-run and pedestrian accidents. Both types of accidents are on the rise and remain a serious problem nationwide. That’s according to a pedestrian accident attorney in Wichita who deals with these types of cases throughout Kansas.

The recent fatal hit-and-run pedestrian accident happened on a Saturday night in early June near Douglas and Greenwood Streets in Wichita. The pedestrian died six days later in a Wichita hospital as a result of her injuries.

The driver who allegedly caused the fatal pedestrian accident and left the crash scene was later located by police. He was arrested and charged with hit and run and aggravated battery. The accident remains under investigation and the official charges against the driver may be amended, police told KWCH 12 News.

How common are pedestrian accidents?

Despite continued efforts to educate drivers and the public at large about the dangers vehicles pose to pedestrians, the number of pedestrian accidents and fatalities has continued to rise in recent years.

Safety officials were alarmed in 2019 when pedestrian fatalities hit a 30-year high that year. A total of 6,590 pedestrians died that year in accidents, an increase of 5 percent compared to 2018 and the most pedestrian deaths in a single year since 1988, according to statistics compiled by The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) as reported by Car & Driver.

The next year, that figure climbed even higher. According to initial estimates provided by the GHSA, an estimated 6,721 pedestrians were killed in 2020, an increase of 131 deaths or 1.9 percent compared to 2019, even though there were fewer drivers on the road last year due to the worldwide pandemic.

How common are hit-and-run accidents?

Hit-and-run accidents might seem rare, but they have become even more common in recent years. Hit-and-run accidents account for 5 percent of all traffic fatalities, according to statistics compiled by the AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety. In addition, fatalities associated with hit-and-run accidents have been increasing by roughly 7 percent each year on average in recent years.

As a result, there are an estimated 737,000 hit-and-run accidents each year nationwide. That’s roughly one such accident every 43 seconds. While police do sometimes catch the drivers as they did in the recent case in Kansas, some drivers are never caught. This leaves injury victims and their families to deal with many complicated legal issues that often arise in such cases.

How can a lawyer help?

Pedestrian accidents – especially ones involving hit-and-run drivers – can be complicated legal cases in which many different legal issues arise. The driver who caused the accident might not be located or claim they didn’t do anything wrong. Insurance companies for the at-fault driver can be just hard to deal with after a pedestrian accident. That’s because injury claims often add up to thousands of dollars or significantly more. As a result, insurance companies often do everything they can to avoid paying claims.

The experienced attorneys at Bretz Injury Law in Kansas can help you every step of the way. We know exactly what evidence to look for after an accident. Whether it’s carefully reviewing traffic camera footage, tracking down witnesses, or consulting with accident reconstruction experts, we leave no stone unturned in pursuit of the truth. Discover what we can do for you. Contact us and schedule your free case evaluation today. Our law firm has several offices conveniently located throughout Kansas, including offices in Wichita and Hutchinson.

Passengers can do very little to avoid being involved in a crash. In many cases, they’re injured because of the actions of another driver, or perhaps because of the actions of the driver of the vehicle in which the passenger is riding.

Crashes causing passenger injuries aren’t always clear-cut. There is often a lot of confusion regarding who was at fault and who is responsible for paying for damages. If you’re a passenger who was injured in a crash, you may be wondering who will pay for your medical bills and other damages accrued in the crash. The short answer is the insurance companies, but it’s much more complex than you think. The best way to learn about your legal options is to speak to an experienced Kansas car accident lawyer.

How passengers are compensated after a crash

Kansas is a “no-fault” car insurance state, which means that all motor vehicle owners are required to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. The purpose of PIP is to prevent Kansas courtrooms from becoming flooded with car accident cases while allowing injured motorists to recover minor damages. If you own a car, your PIP coverage applies regardless of whether you’re driving your own car, driving someone else’s car, or a passenger. If you don’t own a vehicle and, therefore, don’t have PIP coverage, don’t worry. You can still recover damages from the PIP policy on the vehicle in which you were a passenger. PIP coverage pays for medical costs, wage loss, rehabilitation, in-home assistance, and funeral expenses.

In Kansas, the minimum PIP coverage requirements include:

• $4,500 per person for medical expenses
• $900 per month for one year for disability and/or loss of income
• $25 per day for in-home services
• $2,000 for funeral, burial or cremation expenses
• $4,500 for rehabilitation expenses

What if my damages exceed the PIP policy limit?

After seeing a doctor, you may find out that your injuries were more serious than you initially thought. You may learn that you need an operation and months of physical therapy before you can recover. In this case, you will need to pursue damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, whether it’s your driver or the driver of another car that caused your crash.

In order to pursue damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you will need to prove that your injuries were the direct result of negligence. This is where an in-depth investigation needs to be conducted by an experienced Kansas car accident lawyer. Without an investigation, there is no way to determine who was at fault. Without evidence, it’s solely your word against the at-fault party’s word.

Personal injury lawyers serving all Kansans

Here is what a lawyer can do for you:

• Work with a crash reconstruction expert to examine physical evidence from the crash scene.
• Interview witnesses and cross-reference their statements with other pieces of evidence.
• Examine the official police report.
• Examine your medical records and official injury diagnosis.
• Check surveillance camera footage and cellphone records, if these pieces of evidence are available.

Whether your recovering damages from your own insurance company or the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you should get a strong legal advocate on your side who can help you recover every dollar you’re entitled to. Insurance companies often use a slew of dirty tricks to pay you as little as possible. The legal team at Bretz & Young Injury Lawyers can help you recover it all. We have a vast amount of legal knowledge and experience dealing directly with insurance companies. To find out how we can help you, contact us by phone, email or online and schedule your free, no-obligation legal consultation.